Message of Abbot Paul - Thursday 12th January 2023
Abbot Paul • January 12, 2023
Yesterday, Fr Michael and I had the joy of celebrating the 48th anniversary of our priestly ordination, a day for thanksgiving and for many happy memories. God has been very good to both of us, allowing us to serve him in a large variety of ministries in many parts of the world, mostly unexpected and undreamt of when we were ordained by Bishop Daniel Mullins back then in 1975, a Holy Year decreed by Pope St Paul VI, of happy memory. In fact, Fr Dyfrig and I were staying at St Paul outside the Walls that night of 6th August 1978, when Pope Paul passed to his eternal reward. We were in the garden chatting after supper when news came of his death. It was the end of an era.
Today, in our English Benedictine monasteries, we keep the feast of St Benet Biscop, 628-690, Abbot of Jarrow and Wearmouth, a man who exerted enormous influence over the life of English monasteries, encouraging learning and scholarship and the introduction of Roman customs and traditions. He was, for example, the Venerable Bede’s abbot. Do read what you can about him, a fascinating man and an outstanding international figure.
Our Gospel reading of Mark, (Mk 1: 40-45), continues with the healing of a leper. We read, “A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course, I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.” We note the courage of the leper who comes to kneel before Jesus and the compassion of Our Lord, who stretches out his hand and heals the man, like a new creation. I always think of Michelangelo’s fresco in the Sistine Chapel ceiling of God creating Adam. Then Christ’s order that he show himself and give the appropriate offering to the priest in order to have his cure ratified. He orders the man to tell no one, but the man does the exact opposite, so that everyone gets to learn about it, as a result of which Jesus is no longer free to travel about openly. The whole world wants to be healed.
Br Meinrad and Br Gildas attend a special service with the Benedictine community of St Paul's Outside the Walls with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Honesty and Love Before God: Pharisee and Tax Collector; Pope and King - a homily by Abbot Brendan for the 30th Sunday of the Year.
We are sad to announce that Fr Stephen died on Monday 21st October 2055. He was 94. He died peacefully in hospital, having recently fractured his shoulder. He was a beloved member of the monastic community, who had settled back at Belmont after many years on Belmont parishes, including in Abergavenny, Swansea, Hereford and Weobley. He will be much missed. His Requiem Mass will be at Belmont on Wednesday, 5th November at 11.30am followed by burial in the monastic cemetery. The Reception of his Body into the Abbey Church will take place on Tuesday, 4th November, at 5.45pm.
With honoured guests we were delighted to open our doors again of our new guesthouse and conference centre: The Chapterhouse.
"A hymn to the human body." Abbot Brendan's Homily at the annual Mass celebrated at Rotherwas Chapel in Hereford that dates from the 1580s on the feast of the Assumption.
From Francis to Leo: A special event with Christopher Lamb of CNN in conversation with Austin Ivereigh who commentated for the BBC on the transition from Pope Francis to Pope Leo.
On 12th June an Ecumenical Service was held at Hereford Cathedral to celebrate the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea.
